FIG. 6.

Reduced CF-labeling of the perisinusoidal ECM of the liver in the rat model of NASH is detectable in vivo and ex vivo by generating maps of measured $T_2^{*}$ (a–d, h–k). Histograms (e, f and l,m) of $T_2^{*}$ in the entire liver show a broad shift in $T_2^{*}$ in control rats after injection of CF, both in vivo and ex vivo. No such shift was seen in MCD-fed rats. A significant (α = 0.05) reduction in average in vivo and ex vivo $T_2^{*}$ (g, n) was observed after CF injection in livers from rats fed the control diet. $T_2^{*}$ did not change significantly after CF injection in livers from rats fed with the MCD diet. n = 6 per group for in vivo $T_2^{*}$ measurements. n = 2 for the ex vivo pre-injection control group. n = 3 for the ex vivo pre-injection MCD-fed group. n = 6 for both ex vivo post-injection groups. Error bars equal ± the standard error of the mean.